I gave the blog I facelift. In the process, I deleted the existing comments on accident. My apologies, I promise I wasn't upset with the comments and removing them out of spite. I also added some ways to follow if you're interested.
Well I am on day 16 of Whole30 today, which is a little over my halfway point. For those of you familiar with the conquest, I have updates for you. (If you need a little background-check back 2 posts or so.)
In summary, it's going great. I've had one difficult night when we met a friend for dinner in LA but otherwise it's been smooth sailing and much less difficult than I first anticipated.
First up: some of my better meals for the week and in general my routines. This information is not to try to look awesome because as far as meals go, I'm not the best blog you could be watching to plan your meals. But it does provide you a little insight into how to start your own Whole30 quest. There are some much more creative people with better culinary ideas than "your humble correspondent." But I am a busy, poor college kid so maybe you can relate to that a little more. Also, I have a solid amount of resources here to provide you the opportunity to be one of those energetic chefs if you so choose.
Breakfasts: In general, the fastest possible because maximum sleep is of utmost importance in my book.
I tend to roll with the banana/Sunbutter combo or 2-3 eggs sunny side up with hot sauce. I have also found unsalted almond butter at the Trader Joe's here which is equally as delicious. (I almost cried in Trader Joe's when I realized my little perfect lifestyle from Fort Collins is about to be gone and replaced with the sadness of the Mojave wasteland.)
Recipes for this week: "Fauxjacks", Scotch Eggs, Eggs with sauce
Lunch: During weekdays, I don't get a lunch break. So I pack items that can be eaten on the fly. I've basically always just thrown in apples, oranges, kiwis and a bag of assorted nuts which I buy in bulk so I can mix and match later. Sometimes if I'm lucky, I'll have leftovers that are microwaveable. I'm going to try to plan for that a lot more this week. Cliff and I scored big time this week finding some great dinner/next day leftovers which are about to be mentioned in the dinner section.
Dinner: This is the easiest yet hardest meal of the day. Easiest because you have home court advantage with all kitchen supplies at the ready. Hardest because after a long day the last thing you want to do is come home and spend time cooking before you can feed your exhausted, ravenous self. My main goal is to find something easy. This to me means I can either throw it in the food processor and then eat OR it can sit on the stove or in the oven while I multitask by accomplishing other necessary household things, like washing the endless dish pile. The best of the week: Sweet Potato Hash, any meat at all with amazing bbq sauce, chicken and celery with mock peanut sauce, King Salmon cooked in olive oil with lemon, dill, and finely sliced carrots. I'll post this separate recipe later. Note: My peanut sauce was only 1/4 clove crushed garlic and missing the coconut aminos because I couldn't find it. I was perfectly happy. Also, all of these are great for next day lunches.
Coming up for dinner: Me finding an orange glaze sauce for meat, Lamb Kabobs with veal instead, chili.
Questions? I will now answer some common questions you might be having, if I miss a question feel free to ask and I'd love to answer.
1: How are you feeling?
Great. I've also been making a point to get 8 hours of sleep per night and work out at least 4 days a week so it's honestly hard to attribute energy levels to diet habits alone but if you dig around the Whole30 site you'll see that they strongly promote all 3 areas to be in good health. I've been making it through 8am classes without any urge to nod off as well as skipping that 2pm afternoon crash I dealt with previously.
2. Are you having a ton of cravings?
Nope. Day 2/3 ish I was really wanting some sugar cookies or Peanut Butter Tagalongs but Girl Scout cookies aren't really a fair craving standard. Who DOESN'T want some Girl Scout cookie deliciousness?? It was a little bit of a sad transition to go from caramel syrup in my morning latte to strait espresso but it's normal now. It's really just become a thought of "No, I'm not eating that because it has high fructose corn syrup" rather than feeling restricted and taunted.
3. Have you noticed a difference in your size?
Yep. Within the first week, my clothes fit looser. It's not that I lost fat or toned up immediately but that my body isn't bloated. (Which makes sense especially for cutting out salt.) I will post later if I eat some salt and blow up like a balloon :) A lovely little friend of mine also halfway done reports the same results and bought jeans a size smaller already.
4. Do your taste buds actually adapt to love stupid, boring celery?
Affirmative. I can verify this based on true events from last night. I made the aforementioned delicious "peanut" sauce and I was completely satisfied. Cliff tried it and said it was pretty bland. I made him his own batch with peanut butter instead of almond butter and added some soy sauce. He also threw in a few cashews or something trying to be creative haha. This new sauce was acceptable to him and I was perfectly happy with my paleo sauce. I can also drink coffee with just a splash of coconut milk and be satisfied. Mind you, it's not my favorite but I don't gag anymore like day 1.
5. What about your hair and skin?
This will also be something I'll update well after the fact since it's just too early to tell. But I am watching it and I will post later.
15 March 2011
11 March 2011
the verdict on no shampoo
Should you actually quit using shampoo?
Maybe.
I hate to start my first verdict out with a maybe but I can't stand behind a definite yes or no; my hand is forced.
I will stand behind the idea that most people are shampooing too frequently. I will also say that I think it would be beneficial to take a shampoo hiatus and let your body relax a bit. From then on, shampoo only once or twice a week. If you have curly, dry hair then try no shampoo. Here is what I found to be a good process to accomplish it effectively with a little rhyme and reason to explain.
Note: If you are a hair product junkie; you have a choice. Lay off the products or keep using shampoo as you are. This comes strait from the stylist's lips.
1. I'd recommend finding a time it's acceptable to look borderline non-hygienic and go as long as you can without shampooing. I've read brushing your hair with a bristle brush helps distribute oils to the ends, which I tried, and I didn't notice a big difference one way or the other. If you have curly hair (like me) I'd also advise straitening it pre sans shampoo lifestyle. It's easier to keep the tangles out as well as style without looking embarrassingly disgusting. At this point, invest in some dry shampoo or use cornstarch (harder to rub out). Wait it out.
2. When you finally crack and need to wash it there are a few options. Some people say they rinsed often with only water (all methods assume you really rub your scalp down). I found this to be horrible. My hair was oily, frizzy, and overall nasty. Second choice-use only conditioner. This is what I have been doing for the last few weeks with great success. It's not AS lightweight and lustrous as using shampoo but it's pretty damn close. Third option-baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Mix the baking soda to a paste, rub on your scalp, let sit a few minutes, wash out. Then dilute the cider vinegar, pour through your hair, let it sit, wash out. I did this as my first wash before I was warned that this will strip the living beejeesis out of your color (luckily mine was already faded). If you don't color or only highlight-go for it.
Keep repeating steps 1 and 2 over and over until a. you find what works best for you or b. you hate your hair and yourself and just want to use shampoo like a normal person.
Personally, I am going to use only conditioner for a few months, cut the hair product input and see how it goes. When I got my hair colored last week, Bre shampooed it and much to the contrary of other people's experiences all was well. My scalp didn't freak out, I didn't get crazy dandruff. So, if I find a time where I need to use alot of product and shampoo to wash it out, so be it. But as is, I'm pretty satisfied to not have greasy hair the next morning after I shower.
Maybe.
I hate to start my first verdict out with a maybe but I can't stand behind a definite yes or no; my hand is forced.
I will stand behind the idea that most people are shampooing too frequently. I will also say that I think it would be beneficial to take a shampoo hiatus and let your body relax a bit. From then on, shampoo only once or twice a week. If you have curly, dry hair then try no shampoo. Here is what I found to be a good process to accomplish it effectively with a little rhyme and reason to explain.
Note: If you are a hair product junkie; you have a choice. Lay off the products or keep using shampoo as you are. This comes strait from the stylist's lips.
1. I'd recommend finding a time it's acceptable to look borderline non-hygienic and go as long as you can without shampooing. I've read brushing your hair with a bristle brush helps distribute oils to the ends, which I tried, and I didn't notice a big difference one way or the other. If you have curly hair (like me) I'd also advise straitening it pre sans shampoo lifestyle. It's easier to keep the tangles out as well as style without looking embarrassingly disgusting. At this point, invest in some dry shampoo or use cornstarch (harder to rub out). Wait it out.
2. When you finally crack and need to wash it there are a few options. Some people say they rinsed often with only water (all methods assume you really rub your scalp down). I found this to be horrible. My hair was oily, frizzy, and overall nasty. Second choice-use only conditioner. This is what I have been doing for the last few weeks with great success. It's not AS lightweight and lustrous as using shampoo but it's pretty damn close. Third option-baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Mix the baking soda to a paste, rub on your scalp, let sit a few minutes, wash out. Then dilute the cider vinegar, pour through your hair, let it sit, wash out. I did this as my first wash before I was warned that this will strip the living beejeesis out of your color (luckily mine was already faded). If you don't color or only highlight-go for it.
Keep repeating steps 1 and 2 over and over until a. you find what works best for you or b. you hate your hair and yourself and just want to use shampoo like a normal person.
Personally, I am going to use only conditioner for a few months, cut the hair product input and see how it goes. When I got my hair colored last week, Bre shampooed it and much to the contrary of other people's experiences all was well. My scalp didn't freak out, I didn't get crazy dandruff. So, if I find a time where I need to use alot of product and shampoo to wash it out, so be it. But as is, I'm pretty satisfied to not have greasy hair the next morning after I shower.
28 February 2011
Kickin it off-Whole30 Style!
I officially started my 30 day countdown today. If you aren't one of the fortunate people that have heard me ramble on and on about how cool the Whole30 program is then I behoove you to click this link before you go any further:
For those of you who have heard the rambles, I will proceed to share my findings with you. My meals today consisted of:
Breakfast: Two strait espresso shots. (blkasasdhf) Banana with Sunbutter. You can buy that stuff at King Soop's (Kroger for you Texas friends). A little note-get the organic kind, not natural. Make sure to read the ingredients.
Lunch: Almonds (make sure to check for not salted). And again, banana with Sunbutter. (I swear to God I'm going to end up eating bananas every day. They are too convenient: cheap and easy to transport...)
Dinner: Lettuce wrapped burgers with tomato and onion.
Dessert: "Mango Cream" I went with the almonds and raspberry addition.
So, I have read that your taste buds adjust to natural sugars and you appreciate real food more. I really hope so because a lettuce burger with no condiments was pretty blah. Shmaw. Other than that, it's not too bad. I feel glad that I am taking care of my body. Also, I have already noticed a paradigm shift. As I finished the rest of my groceries before starting the Whole30, I noticed ingredients exponentially more and to be quite honest-I don't want to keep eating crappy, empty food. I've really been inspired to change; my entire perspective of food is different and I truly do want to eat good quality meals. I also want to try Crossfit but that is for a future Faith and Cliff that have money.
So here are the goods:
I want to highlight the most useful links on my page in my opinion. And I want to point out what they are called for easy reference. I feel like half the battle with healthy meals is:
1. Not eating boring, gross meals.
2. Coming up with ideas for said meals.
Without further ado:
Useful Blog #1
This lady is not only hilarious but has a plethora of tested recipe links. Her blog is to the left under "Blogs of Interest" and titled "The Clothes Make the Girl" You can get to her recipes right from her home page by clicking the "Dino-Chow" button. But here is the direct link for now:
#2
Also under "Blogs of Interest", "The Nap Clan." This is a mom who did the Whole30 and posted great recipe ideas by week. This is also fantastic because she posts recipes to other pages, which can lead you on a great stumble of a recipe treasure hunt.
#3
"Everyday Paleo" under "Links" to the left. From what I gather, this lady wrote a book about it and now has this website as well. It's not a strait up recipe list but she also does have good, practical advice as well.
#4
"Paleo Recipes", also under Links. (Another recipe heavy page). This page also outlines specifics of the Paleo diet, which is nice. But keep in mind-the Whole30 is not the EXACT same as Paleo. Some recipes may be Paleo certified but a no-no-no in the Whole30 club. (Watch out for salt).
It's important to note that just because I highlighted these 4 blogs doesn't mean you can skip the others posted. That would be sad choice for you because they are great. They were cool enough to get posted on the home screen so I promise it's worth AT LEAST some skim action. Also, if you have some other great sites please share them. I would love nothing more than to read more information and post it so others can too.
If you are interested in the quest for no shampoo, read on. If you don't give a crap, that's all the rest of the blog consists of so don't waste your time.
Week 2 with no shampoo.
I can officially give shampoo the big middle finger. (Suck it shampoo!)
Here is how I arrived at such a conclusion; I used the baking soda/cider wash technique Saturday morning. It's currently Monday night and my hair has looked fine all day. Tomorrow might be a hat day but I'm trying to test the waters to see how the oil production adjustments are faring. I blow dried and flat ironed my hair Saturday and it wasn't frizzy, didn't smell, and looked just as clean as if I'd used shampoo. That was enough convincing for me.
It should be mentioned that I still have that weird I forgot to wash out all the conditioner feeling and I think that contributes a lot to my hair being ...pliable and staying where I move it more than usual. It also does tangle a bit easier so I make sure to brush it out with a normal brush then a boar bristle to help distribute oil.
Still brainstorming ideas for the next adventure so seriously, if you have something that's worth doing then share it. And I really do emphasize the seriously.
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